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Is Niacinamide A Treatment For Congested/Acne Prone Skin?




Niacinamide seems to be growing in popularity as an effective form of treatment for more moderate-severe congestion/acne-prone skin. While it does definitely have its benefits I thought I'd dispel a little misconception surrounding this well-rounded ingredient. 

Generally B3 Supplements come in 3 forms:
- Niacin
- Nicotinamide
- Nicotinamide Riboside

Niacin is a more easily converted NAD within the body. Nicotinamide, also known as Niacinamide, is an amide (a molecule the nitrogen atom is bonded to by only one carbon atom) of nicotinic acid, which is commonly known as niacin.  

Niacinamide is the active form of vitamin B3 and a component of the coenzyme Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide NAD.

Nicotinamide riboside (NR), on the other hand, is a chemically altered/synthetic form of nicotinamide that has unique attributes but limited uses.

 Niacinamide assists by building protein/ceramides and lipid function that keeps the skin barrier healthy and smooth. This also results in regulating oil production, reducing redness, visibly reduces pores (due to the smoothing of the skin barrier) and provide some protection against environmental damage. 

I’ve seen a lot of people using this as a solution for more acne-related issues. While Niacinamide can reduce the appearance of breakouts and balance visible sebum activity, it’s not a treatment for acne-prone. For moderate to severe forms of acne-related conditions the use of products that are specifically designed to treat the cause of while also managing the symptoms. Some examples are Benzoyl Peroxide, Retinoids, topical/oral antibiotics, corticosteroids,. BHA’s can manage the visible breakouts but will not treat the cause.

It's not recommended to use Niacinamide with direct acids like chemical exfoliants or L-Ascorbic Acid, this can impact the PH reducing the efficacy of each product and potentially cause flushing/irritation of the skin. 

So in short Niacinamide definitely has it's benefits but is not the first treatment option for moderate-severe congestion/acne.

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